Winnie Ewing (born July 10, 1929) is a prominent Scottish nationalist and was formerly a Member of Parliament (MP), Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP). Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1233x1700, 256 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... July 10 is the 191st day (192nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 174 days remaining. ... 1929 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Scotland (Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a country in northwest Europe, occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to a parliament; in the Westminster system, specifically to the lower house. ... The European Parliament is the parliamentary body of the European Union (EU), directly elected by EU citizens once every five years. ... The Scottish Parliament (Pàrlamaid na h-Alba in Gaelic, Scots Pairlament in Scots) is the national unicameral legislature of Scotland. ...

She became active in campaigning for Scottish independence through her membership of the Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association, and came to prominence in 1967 when she won the Hamilton by-election as the Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate. A practicing solicitor at the time of her election, she proved to be a sound choice as her eloquence and ability bolstered a hard fought SNP campaign and saw her through to victory. Walter Thomas Monningtons 1925 painting called Parliamentary Union of England and Scotland 1707 hangs in the Palace of Westminster depicting the official presentation of the law that formed the United Kingdom of Great Britain. ... The Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association (GUSNA) was formed in 1927 by students at the University of Glasgow who believed in Scottish independence. ... 1967 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Mausoleum of the Dukes of Hamilton, in the grounds of the old Hamilton Palace Hamilton (Hamaltan, in Scottish Gaelic) is a town in Central Scotland. ... In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP) (Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a centre-left political party which favours Scottish independence. ...

She famously said at the time of her election, 'stop the world, Scotland wants to get on', and her presence at Westminster proved to be a real focus for the SNP with a significant rise in membership being the result. Furthermore, many political commentators speculate that it was as a result of her victory that the then Labour Government established the Kilbrandon Commission to look into the establishment of a devolved Scottish Assembly. Westminster is the area located immediately to the west of the ancient City of London, in the centre of the wider conurbation of London. ... The Labour Party is a centre-left or social democratic political party in Britain (see British politics), and one of the United Kingdoms three main political parties. ... A devolved Scottish Assembly that would have some form of legislative powers in jurisdiction over Scotland was a long-held political priority for many individuals and organisations. ...

Despite her high profile she was unsuccessful in retaining the Hamilton seat at the 1970 General Election, but she managed to be re-elected to Westminster at the February 1974 Election for Moray and Nairn, and held her seat in the repeat election in October of the same year. She first became an MEP in 1975, at a time when the European Parliament was still comprised of representative delegations from national parliaments. She ceased to be a Westminster MP after the May 1979 election, but within weeks had reclaimed her seat at the European Parliament in the first direct elections to the body. The United Kingdom general election of 1970 was held on June 18, 1970, and resulted in a surprise loss of power for Labour under Harold Wilson, who was replaced as Prime Minister by the Conservative leader, Edward Heath. ... The UK general election of February 1974 was held on February 28, 1974. ... Moray and Nairn was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1983. ... The UK general election, 1979 was held on May 3, 1979 and is regarded as a pivotal point in 20th century British politics. ...

It was during her time as a MEP that she acquired the nickname Madame Ecosse (French for Mrs Scotland). The term was meant to be given in jest and used in a disparaging way by her opponents, but Ewing used the term as a badge of pride and it stuck.

In 1999 she gave up being a MEP and became a MSP in the first session of the Scottish Parliament, representing the Highlands and Islands. As the oldest member it was her duty to preside over the opening of the Scottish Parliament, a session she opened with the famous words, 'The Scottish Parliament, adjourned on the 25th day of March in the year 1707, is hereby reconvened'. 1999 is a common year starting on Friday of the Common Era, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

In 2003 she lost her husband, Stewart Ewing, in a fire accident. He had been active with her in politics for many years, and had himself served as a SNP councillor for the Summerston area in Glasgow. The same year she lost her husband she stood down from being a MSP, although she continues to serve as the SNP's President, a position she has held for many years. 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Summerston is a residential area of Glasgow, Scotland. ... Glasgows location in Scotland Glasgow (or Glaschu in Gaelic) is Scotlands largest city, on the River Clyde in west central Scotland. ...

On July 15, 2005 she announced she would be stepping down as President of the Scottish National Party at its September Conference, bringing to an end her 38 year career in representative politics. July 15 is the 196th day (197th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 169 days remaining. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ... In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP) (Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a centre-left political party which favours Scottish independence. ...

Her son Fergus Ewing and his wife Margaret Ewing both serve as SNP MSPs, whilst her daughter Annabelle Ewing was a SNP MP. Fergus Ewing, born September 23, 1957 is a Scottish National Party (SNP) MSP. He is the son of veteran Scottish Nationalist Winnie Ewing (his father was also a SNP councillor) and has long been active in the SNP. He studied law at the University of Glasgow where he was a... Margaret Ewing is a Scottish National Party (SNP) MSP. Born on September 1, 1945, she attended the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde and was a teacher before becoming an MP at the February 1974 Election. ... Categories: Stub | 1960 births ...